Route sales representative vs inside sales representative

The differences between route sales representatives and inside sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a route sales representative has an average salary of $44,918, which is higher than the $44,413 average annual salary of an inside sales representative.

The top three skills for a route sales representative include CDL, DOT and strong customer service. The most important skills for an inside sales representative are customer service, CRM, and outbound calls.

Route sales representative vs inside sales representative overview

	Route Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$44,918	$44,413
Hourly rate	$21.60	$21.35
Growth rate	11%	4%
Number of jobs	108,194	244,168
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	48	47
Years of experience	-	4

What does a route sales representative do?

A route sales representative is responsible for offering goods and services to customers in a designated area. Route sales representatives work closely with the marketing team to develop effective sales strategies, create sales pitches, and release promotional offers to generate sales, increase revenues, and build the organization's profitability. They also research the latest industry trends to identify sales opportunities and communicate findings to the team for new service offerings. A route sales representative must have excellent customer service and communication skills to assist customers in their inquiries and concerns and negotiate sales contracts.

What does an inside sales representative do?

An inside sales representative is responsible for selling services and products to clients, driving the company's revenues and increase sales profitability. Duties of an inside sales representative include developing strategic sales pitches, responding to customer's inquiries and requests, offering promotional products and discounts, researching potential clients, creating sales reports, and managing customer's possible complaints. An inside sales representative also provides strategic solutions to share with the sales team to improve their sales performance. Inside sales representatives must have excellent communication and negotiation skills to deal with customers' needs.

Route sales representative vs inside sales representative salary

Route sales representatives and inside sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Route Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Average salary	$44,918	$44,413
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $54,000	Between $28,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	California	Wyoming
Best paying company	Johnson Controls	Berkshire Hathaway
Best paying industry	Education	Technology

Differences between route sales representative and inside sales representative education

There are a few differences between a route sales representative and an inside sales representative in terms of educational background:

	Route Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Route sales representative vs inside sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between route sales representatives' and inside sales representatives' demographics:

	Route Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Average age	48	47
Gender ratio	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%	Male, 54.7% Female, 45.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 3.8% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	4%	6%

Differences between route sales representative and inside sales representative duties and responsibilities

Route sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage invoice collection and customer issues.
Drive CDL rate truck over assign territory.
Complete route in timely manner via CDL truck.
Utilize math skills to process payments while on route.
Maintain cleanliness of truck and inspect truck for imperfections and safe operation.
Distribute daily newspapers to customers; acquire new business via effective sales and marketing techniques.

Inside sales representative example responsibilities.

Coordinate commercial sales and manage projects with HVAC contractors for Georgia district.
Accomplish tasks in a timely manner.Skills UsedComputer, math, reading wiring schematics.
Generate leads through the use of Linkedin, firm websites and legal magazines.
Manage and develop a nationwide territory through cold calling utilizing LinkedIn?, DiscoverOrg.
Manage help desk support for company ERP system as well as employee hardware and software issues.
Manage a team of 15-25 ISE's through effective sales coaching, call monitoring and creating sales spiff programs.

Route sales representative vs inside sales representative skills

Common route sales representative skills

CDL, 17%
DOT, 16%
Strong Customer Service, 12%
Customer Accounts, 8%
Work Ethic, 7%
Upselling, 5%

Common inside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 22%
CRM, 6%
Outbound Calls, 5%
Product Knowledge, 4%
Work Ethic, 4%
Sales Process, 3%

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Route Sales Representative
Route Sales Representative vs Inside Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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